Flowers somehow mean more when they appear amid the spines of a cactus – maybe because we know how difficult desert survival can be, and to flower indicates a resilience and triumph of spirit and power over circumstance and environment. On my lone visit to the Southwest desert, I remember being blown away by the variety of architectural wonder on display by the cacti and succulents that dared to brave the inhospitable area. Those that managed to flower – the prickly pears and a few saguaros – were emblematic of hope and beauty defiantly existing in a world of desolation. Whenever I see a cactus in bloom, I’m humbled and awed, and it’s a good lesson and reminder of survival and strength – pink prettiness too in the case of this precious guy.
